Changeable number sign



July 24, 1934. M SCHOENING 1,967,453

CHANGEABLE NUMBER SIGN Filed Sept. 25, 1953 F3141 I E WI'I'I'I' 2i@ [1 W m if A i'mnmm um V i I 1] iummun! 71 JNVENTORI ATTORNEY Patented July 224, i934 UNITED career or ies 3 Claims.

One object of this invention is the provision of a changeable number sign, that is, a frame adapted to be publicly displayed to indicate a number subject to change such as the price of .an article or goods, the frame being provided with means for indicating any number from zero to the number 9.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a frame or casing containing a number of horizontally pivoted elongated hollow blocks, the faces of the blocks being each marked or painted with a portion of each of the numbers from to 9, the blocks being individually rotatable by means of a key to align the desired block faces to indicate the desired number.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a side view of the device.

Figure 2 is a front View of the same,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

block, showing the relation of the partition with the apron which forces the blocks downward.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral represents a casing having the side walls 11 and 12, the bottom 13, and the removable flanged top or cover 14. A partition 15 rises from the floor 13 and terminates near the top of the back wall 16, extending the full width of the casing compartment. The front of the casing is open except for the two side panels 17, the depending ,7 apron 18 of the cover 14, and the low wall 19 extending from the bottom 13, these members providing a frame for the numbers which are displayed.

The partition 15 provides a compartment 20 at the front of the casing. Mounted in this compartment, one above the other, are a plurality of hollow rectangular blocks 21 alternate blocks having their ends raised by peripheral metal bands 22. These blocks simply rest on the bot tom 13, and upon each other, by force of gravity. A lip 23, extending the width of the compartment 20, rests on the top block 21. A fold 24 rises from the lip 23 and is continued downward as a guide wall 25 slidably contacting with the partition 15,

is top of the latter also registering within the fold 24. A coiled spring 26 attached to the cover lei presses down upon the lip 23, urging all of the blocks downward. The partition, which is mounted loosely as a sheet of metal in the casing, is normally urged against the blocks by coiled springs 27. The ends of the blocks 21 adjacent the wall 11, are each provided with a key slot 28 adapted to receive a, key or the like 29, to rotate each block.

Each of the blocks 21 has marked on each of its four faces a dark or otherwise colored portion 30, the marking on each face of one block being different from that of the other faces of the same block. It is found that by such a combination of only four different markings on each block, the various blocks in diiferent alignments may be arranged to show any of the numbers from 0 to 9. When any block is rotated, it raises the blocks above it against the pressure of the spring 26 when it rotates from its normal position, and likewise pushes the partition 25 to the right (Fig. 3) against the springs 27. When the block has been rotated ninety degrees, these springs again retain the block in that position, that is, with its upper and lower faces horizontal. The fold 24 prevents the lip 23 from falling below a very small distance above the topmost block, and this fold together with the wall 25 provide a guide for the lip 23 in its up-and-down movement. The end bands 22 serve to ride upon each other and so prevent the painted surfaces of the blocks from scraping each other.

Obviously, modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A changeable number sign comprising a casing having one side open, a plurality of elongated flat-faced blocks loosely mounted one above the other within the casing adjacent said open side, a spring urging the topmost of said blocks downward, a spring urging said blocks toward said open side of the case, each of said blocks being provided with means whereby they may be rotated.

7 blocks bearing fragmentary number markings thereon.

3. A changeable number sign comprising a cas-,

ing having one side open and provided with a peripheral frame, a partition loosely mounted within said casing parallel with said open side, a plurality of fiat-faced blocks having peripheral bands on their ends loosely mounted one above the other between said frame and partition, a spring normally urging said partition against said blocks to force said blocks against said frame, a cover on said casing, a folded lip lying on said topmost block, said partition having its upper edge slidably mounted inthe fold of said lip, a spring secured to said cover pressing said lip downward, the faces of said block bearing fragmentary number markings thereon, said blocks having means on their ends to receive a key to rotate the blocks.

MAX SCI-IOEN'ING. 

